CANTON: Firestone senior Andrew Bartley competed during this entire swimming season knowing opponents targeted him in the 100-yard breast stroke.¶ Rival swimmers knew Bartley won the Division I state title in the event last year as a junior and were hungry to dethrone him.¶ They fell short Saturday night when Bartley defended his state title in the 100 breast stroke in a time of 55.91 seconds at C.T. Branin Natatorium.¶ ``This is definitely more special than winning it the first time,´´ Bartley said. ``When you are the reigning champ, it doesn't look good to get taken down by someone else. You have to defend that title. As soon as you get it, you have to hang onto it. I feel great. I did what I wanted to do.´´¶ Bartley placed second in the event as a sophomore, and his happy to have his name mentioned with past Firestone state champions in the event, Mark Gangloff and Chris Ash.¶ ``This feels great to be a part of all the Firestone history and tradition,´´ Bartley said.¶ North Canton Hoover junior Mitch Alters finished second in the 200 freestyle in 1:39.62.¶ Hudson finished sixth in the 200 medley relay in 1:35.51. Junior Jimmy Dagley, senior John Zucca, junior Adam Motter and senior Alex Lindroth formed that quartet.¶ North Canton Hoover junior Thomas Tedrow placed sixth in the 50 freestyle in 21.49 seconds and was 11th in the 100 freestyle in 47.13 seconds.¶ Bartley helped the Falcons to an eighth place in the 200 medley relay. Sophomore Mark Belanger and juniors Daniel Sokolov and Mike Harris were also on that relay.¶ Firestone coach Cindy Virdo said she was confident Bartley would defend the title.¶ ``I think he was a little bit anxious going in,´´ Virdo said. ``He wasn't fully shaved yesterday. He looked really good in warmups this morning and shaved this afternoon. He swam great in the 200 medley relay to open the meet tonight. I knew he was on at that point.´´¶ Belanger claimed seventh in the 100 backstroke (52.22 seconds) and ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:41.98).¶ Dagley took ninth in the 100 backstroke (52.10 seconds), and Zucca was ninth in the 100 breast stroke (58.67 seconds).¶ Cuyahoga Falls sophomore Andrew Appleby placed eighth in the 100 freestyle in 47.16 seconds.¶ ``I am happy with how I swam,´´ Appleby said. ``I feel like I died a little bit during the race. I probably could have had a little bit better turns, but I am only a sophomore. This has been an amazing experience. This was the greatest meet of my life.´´¶ Hudson freshman Alex Obendorf finished third in the diving competition with 454.90 points. Nordonia freshman Stephen Romanik placed fifth with 440.10 points.¶ Cincinnati St. Xavier won its 32nd Division I team state title, and its 12th in a row, with 312 points.¶ Hudson was ninth in the team standings with 82 points and Firestone placedd 13th with 63 points.¶

CANTON: The top spot on the awards podium eluded Katie Miller last year.¶ Miller, a Firestone sophomore, made sure to rectify that Saturday night by winning the 200-yard individual medley title in a time of 2:00.62 in the Division I state swimming meet at C.T. Branin Natatorium.¶ ``It would have been nice to go under two minutes, but I am so happy I was able to win,´´ Miller said. ``I am just so happy to be a state champion, because I was fourth in that event last year.´´¶ Miller also placed second to Upper Arlington senior Abby Chin in the 500 freestyle. Chin won in 4:48.93 and Miller clocked a 4:49.02.¶ ``I know Abby really well,´´ Miller said. ``We both work very hard. It was okay losing to her because she is a senior and she was so close to winning last year. I know how hard she works and how dedicated she is. I am disappointed to lose, but I am happy with second place and that Abby could win.´´¶ Firestone coach Cindy Virdo said she continues to be impressed by the times Miller is posting.¶ ``I am very proud of Katie and excited for her,´´ Virdo said. ``The goal was to walk away with a state title, and she did that in the 200 IM. I am not disappointed at all with the second place in the 500 free because she had a great race. She had lifetime best times in each event.´´¶ Wadsworth senior Elaina Lanson and Jackson sophomore Chase Kinney tied for second in the 50 freestyle in 23.40 seconds. Springboro senior Dani Barbiea won the event in 22.94 seconds.¶ ``This is my fourth year at state,´´ said Lanson, a Georgia Southern recruit. ``I am happy with how I did.¶ ``I have never tied before, but I was happy it was Chase that I tied with. We always go back and forth. That never happens in the state final. I know Chase pretty well. We have competed against each other the last two years and we talk a lot to each other on the starting blocks. It is a friendly competition definitely.´´¶ Wadsworth coach Autumn Reeves said Lanson is the first Grizzlies swimmer — boy or girl — to finish as a state runnerup.¶ Kinney finished fourth in the 100 freestyle in 51.72 seconds. Lanson took fifth in 51.90 seconds, and GlenOak senior Nicole Becks was 10th in 52.49 seconds.¶ ``I am very happy with my times and places,´´ Kinney said. ``It was kind of weird to tie with Elaina, but it's cool. I actually tied yesterday in the 100 in the prelims. Hopefully next year in the 50, I can win it.´´¶ Cloverleaf junior Addy Ferguson placed fourth in the 100 butterfly (56.94 seconds) and eighth in the 100 backstroke (57.79 seconds).¶ ``I take a lot from this meet,´´ Ferguson said. ``My entire family came here to support me, and basically the entire team came out to support me. The whole atmosphere is great. It is a fun experience, and I enjoy the pressure. The pressure pushes me to do better.´´¶¶ Colts coach Mike McGee said Ferguson is the only state qualifier and state placer in swimming in school history.¶ Miller, senior Emma Durante, junior Alyssa Athmer and junior Jillian Stoneburg combined for Firestone to place sixth in the 200 medley relay in 1:47.23.¶ Stoneburg was also ninth in the 200 freestyle in 1:54.93.¶ Jackson took seventh in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:38.36. Kinney anchored the relay which included freshman Elizabeth Graeff, senior Lindsay Ellis and senior Avery Tan.¶ Kinney also anchored the Polar Bears 400 freestyle relay, which included Graeff, Tan and senior Maegan Jones, and finished eighth in 3:37.47.¶ Hudson senior Hannah Hornis anchored the Explorers 200 freestyle relay that placed ninth in 1:38.00 and included sophomores Connie Gan, Emily Arther and Laura Murphy.¶ Upper Arlington won its eight Division I team state title with 286 points.¶ Jackson finished ninth in the team standings with 86.5 points. Firestone was 10th with 76 points and Hudson was 12th with 72 points.¶

Margheret won the Division II state title in the 100-yard breast stroke in a meet record time of 1:02.74. Her performance Friday followed meet record setting times in the district meet last weekend at Cleveland State University and in the sectional meet two weekends ago at the University of Akron.

Akron Public School officials are asking those who plan to attend tonight’s City Series boys championship basketball game between the Firestone Falcons and Buchtel Griffins to not enter the building from the parking lot entrance.

Instead fans will only be allowed to enter through the Rampart Avenue doors which is the main entrance to the school. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Buchtel Griffins defensive back Jarrod Wilson received an offer to play for the Michigan State Spartans according to a source.

Jarrod caught the eye of college scouts with standout post-season play. It's widely known that he would love to continue to be teammates with Griffins wide receiver Corey Smith. Smith already has an offer from the Spartans.

Lake High School announced this week four signings of a National Letter of Intent by four senior football players to attend college next fall. Making commitments from this past year’s team were Jim Luther (Ashland University), Casey Guthrie (Southern Virginia University, Mykal O’Brodo (Ashland University) and Justice Karmie (Hillsdale College).

Austintown Fitch junior running back William Mahone has reportedly been offered by Miami (Ohio), according to ScoutingOhio.com. Mahone, who is 6 foot and 204 pounds, also has offers from Cincinnati and Bowling Green .

CBS Sports is providing fans the most extensive multi-media coverage of college football's annual National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 2 with in-depth content across CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK, CBSSPORTS.COM, MAXPREPS.COM and the CBSSPORTS.COM COLLEGE NETWORK.

CBS College Sports Network offers seven hours of live television programming featuring recruiting expert Tom Lemming and guest analyst former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez. CBSSports.com and MaxPreps.com will provide exclusive online coverage leading up to signing day along with breaking news and in-depth analysis Wednesday.